Elm Street Board Director Cindy Flanders, from left, with artist Kristina Laurendi Havens and Founders Circle Bronze donors Elizabeth and Joe Wallace of Woodstock at a preview party in May of the artist’s works, ‘Woodstock Vignettes,’ a series of 36 paintings set to be auctioned in September. Special to the Tribune

WOODSTOCK — Art lovers have plenty of reasons to head downtown this weekend, with events planned Friday and Saturday in Woodstock offering glimpses of some of the area’s best artists.

As part of the First Friday celebration, Woodstock artist Kristina Laurendi Havens, who has been working on the 36 paintings in the “Woodstock Vignettes” series for two years, will be on hand tonight in the courtyard at Pure Taqueria with her paintings from 6 to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Elm Street Cultural Arts Village is hosting the first Art on the Green with a blend of food, music and art from 2 to 8 p.m.

Art on the Green a community event

The Art on the Green festival will take place throughout the Elm Street Green complete with the new Resurgens Orthopaedics Community Stage.

“We are very excited to merge so many types of art together for this,” said Christopher Brazelton, operations director for Elm Street.

Artists will come from all around metro Atlanta, showing off the best wood carving, oil paints, pottery and more, he said.

“It will be great to show off the vibrant city that Woodstock is with this event” said Trent Chambers of Sojourn Church. Restaurants and merchants from downtown Woodstock will also be showing off some of their artistry throughout the event.

Folk and bluegrass musicians will be performing throughout the afternoon.

The event is free for artists who apply and free for guests to come and view all of the work. Artists will also be able to sell their work.

Art on the Green is collaborative effort between Greenprints Alliance, Sojourn Church, Finestra and Them Two Birds.

For more information and to inquire about the event, visit elmstreetarts.org/artonthegreen or call (678) 494-4251.

Vignettes on display

As part of a fundraising effort for Elm Street, Laurendi Havens painted a series of 36 paintings of scenes of Woodstock to be sold. One painting sold at the preview party in May, collecting $1,000. The others will be auctioned off at the end of the summer after being displayed at various locations.

“I am so thrilled that these paintings will be auctioned off to benefit the Cultural Arts Village for Woodstock,” the artist said on her Facebook page.

Also on hand Friday night will be members from the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village to share concept drawings of the theater, outdoor kitchen, and health walk that will all be part of the project.

The first painting was sold at a private event on May 17 at Leaning Ladder.

No more paintings will be sold until the grand event in September, where many businesses and individuals will be excited to get their hands on their favorite piece from this two-year project.

Havens has offered the money raised from this project as a benefit to Elm Street Cultural Arts Village’s capital campaign to restore the Historic Reeves Home into and Art Gallery and Studio in Downtown Woodstock.

For more information and to inquire about the Woodstock Vignettes like the Facebook page at facebook.com/woodstockvignettes or visit elmstreetarts.org.

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